At Dana’s Boatshop on Maine’s Westport Island, Dana Faulkingham and his son Jason are building and outfitting the Shelly Marie, a 42’ x 15’6” Wayne Beal for Boothbay, Maine, lobsterman Shawn Murrey.

Murrey currently fishes the Shawn Marie, a 36-foot Wayne Beal that Dana’s Boatshop built for him 11 years ago “and he really likes it,” said Faulkingham, “but he wanted to move up to a bigger one.” 

At the end of March, the Shelly Marie was about half completed with a 550-hp Scania that Faulkingham thinks should give the Shelly Marie a 16 to 18-knot cruising speed. The wheelhouse and cabin trunk were installed with V-berths, and work benches will be added.

Pressure treated 2x4 wood deck framing is being installed and will be covered by fiberglassed plywood, topped with ½-inch rubber decking. “We’ve installed four or five with rubber decking,” said Faulkingham, “and so far, everyone is really happy with it. It’s kind on the body and helps quiet things down a little.”

When the Shelly Marie is launched, she’ll go in the water with an open stern for fishing trawls. “All of them nowadays fishing offshore have an open stern. It’s easy to set back,” said Faulkingham.

 “We’re not building light,” he noted. “If anything, it’s more on the heavy side. He (Murrey) likes to work. Got to make sure it’s comfortable for him, no light composites. We’re building old school, wooden framing and nice deck hatches.”

The Shelly Marie will be launched in May or June. Come the end of June, it has to be completed and out the shop’s doors because on July 1, Dana and Jason go on their summer retreat from boatbuilding, which consists of non-stop lobstering. They will be back boatbuilding in later fall or early winter, “when we get work,” says Faulkingham.